Cognitive Learning Flashcards
Learning
A process by which knowledge or behaviour changes as a result of experience. It is a relatively permanent change and cannot be attributed to illness, injury, or maturation. It is a result of physical and chemical changes in the brain (changes to chemical aspects of neurotransmission ex. long-term potentiation and changes to structural aspects of neurons ex. more receptor sites or thicker structure increases the sensitivity of post-synaptic dendrites).
How Do We Learn?
1) By Association
—> Classical Conditioning
—> Operant Conditioning
2) By Cognition
—> Mental Representation of Events
3) By Observation
—> Watching Others
Associative Learning
Certain events (usually two) occur together.
Classical Conditioning
Two stimuli occur together, involuntary (usually physiological) response, for example, can opener = food which leads to drooling.
Operant Conditioning
The relationship between voluntary behaviour and consequence, for example, doing chores = allowance (reward).
Ivan Pavlov MD
Nobel prize on digestion but best known for Pavlov’s Dogs.
4 Elements of Classical Conditioning
1) Unconditioned Stimulus (US)
2) Unconditioned Response (UR)
3) Conditioned Stimulus/Neutral Stimulus (CS)
4) Conditioned Response (CR)
Unconditioned Stimulus (US)
A stimulus that naturally elicits a response.
Unconditioned Response (UR)
The natural response to a stimulus.
Conditioned Stimulus/Neutral Stimulus (CS)
An originally neutral stimulus that, through repeated pairing, will eventually elicit a response.
Conditioned Response (CR)
A learned response to a previously neutral stimulus.
Intensity
The strength of association depends on the vividness of the stimuli. If particularly vivid, several pairings are not necessary.
Generalization
Stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus can elicit the conditioned response.
Discrimination
Learn not to respond to similar stimuli.
Extinction
Conditioned stimulus no longer elicits conditioned response if presented alone.
Spontaneous Recovery
When the conditioned response suddenly reappears after some time from the conditioned stimulus being removed. Response is weaker than before.
Emotional Response
Preparedness and fear conditioning (evolutionary role).
Little Albert (John B. Watson)
A happy baby who was conditioned to fear small, furry animals.
Taste Aversions
Acquired dislike of a food/drink after it is paired with an illness.
Drug Tolerance
Decreased reaction that occurs with the repeated use of a drug.
Compensatory Response
When the body does the opposite effect of the drug in order to compensate for the expected effect. Leads to drug tolerance and overdosing.
Thorndike (1898)
Measured the time it took cats to learn to escape from puzzle boxes.
Law of Effect
Behaviour is a function of consequences (satisfiers and annoyers).
ABCs
Antecedent, behaviour, and consequence (the outcome).